Dear Editor,
The threat posed by the Chikungunya virus to schools and other public places of gathering is real.
From all accounts, the cases of domestic Chikungunya virus have been on the increase with almost daily confirmations from the Ministry of Health. Jamaica has had 10 confirmed cases to date.
As citizens, we have been advised to take a number of precautionary measures to minimise the breeding areas of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is responsible for transmitting this virus. However, not much has been said during this discourse about possible Ministry of Health or Education intervention strategies regarding our school plants on the eve of the start of the new academic year.
For the most part, our schools, both public and private, have been left idle for the greater part of the summer holidays and as such many of them have become potential breeding ground for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The seriousness of the threat posed by Chikungunya virus to schools was recently reinforced with the confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency, headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, of at least one case of Chikungunya at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. It is very clear that government ministries and departments must work together in crafting and implementing prevention strategies to minimise the threat posed.
With the start of the 2014/2015 academic year only a few weeks away, it should be imperative on the part of the Ministry of Health in consultation with the Ministry of Education to conduct an audit of all school plants to ensure that possible breeding areas are not present. This action should be a part of a wider plan of action by the Government as the cases of Chikungunya virus have now been confirmed in at least five parishes.
Our students and teachers, as well as other stakeholders in the education system, will likely be put at risk if the Government does not take a proactive approach in eliminating breeding grounds for mosquitoes from in and around our educational institutions. There is also an urgent need for the Jamaican Government to increase their public education campaign in order to heighten awareness of the devastating impact of Chikungunya virus. An ounce of prevention is always better than cure.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
Schools may be breeding ground for Chikungunya
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The threat posed by the Chikungunya virus to schools and other public places of gathering is real.
From all accounts, the cases of domestic Chikungunya virus have been on the increase with almost daily confirmations from the Ministry of Health. Jamaica has had 10 confirmed cases to date.
As citizens, we have been advised to take a number of precautionary measures to minimise the breeding areas of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito which is responsible for transmitting this virus. However, not much has been said during this discourse about possible Ministry of Health or Education intervention strategies regarding our school plants on the eve of the start of the new academic year.
For the most part, our schools, both public and private, have been left idle for the greater part of the summer holidays and as such many of them have become potential breeding ground for the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The seriousness of the threat posed by Chikungunya virus to schools was recently reinforced with the confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency, headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, of at least one case of Chikungunya at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. It is very clear that government ministries and departments must work together in crafting and implementing prevention strategies to minimise the threat posed.
With the start of the 2014/2015 academic year only a few weeks away, it should be imperative on the part of the Ministry of Health in consultation with the Ministry of Education to conduct an audit of all school plants to ensure that possible breeding areas are not present. This action should be a part of a wider plan of action by the Government as the cases of Chikungunya virus have now been confirmed in at least five parishes.
Our students and teachers, as well as other stakeholders in the education system, will likely be put at risk if the Government does not take a proactive approach in eliminating breeding grounds for mosquitoes from in and around our educational institutions. There is also an urgent need for the Jamaican Government to increase their public education campaign in order to heighten awareness of the devastating impact of Chikungunya virus. An ounce of prevention is always better than cure.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
Schools may be breeding ground for Chikungunya
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